Fake Police officer arrested for abduction, extortion in Akwa Ibom
By: Zagazola Makama
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a man who allegedly impersonated a police officer and abducted two persons while extorting money from them in Eket Local Government Area.
The suspect, identified as Prince Udo Tom, was arrested on May 4 at about 8:00 p.m. following a distress call from a Good Samaritan to the Quick Intervention Unit (Q.I.U) in Eket.
Police operatives, who swiftly responded to the scene beside St. Gregory Primary School, off Liverpool Road, rescued the victims, Samuel Udoakpan Solomon and Eric Emmanuel.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect falsely claimed to be a police officer attached to a special squad in Rivers State, and said he was on assignment in Eket.
According to the police, the suspect held his victims hostage and demanded a ransom of N500,000 from them, part of which was already transferred to him via a Point of Sale (POS) transaction.
The suspect reportedly had been targeting students and extorting money under the guise of law enforcement.
Police sources said the Command has launched a full-scale investigation to track down other members of the gang and bring them to justice.
